LULAC, a Member of HACR Releases The Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility’s (HACR) Corporate Inclusion Index in Partnership with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Corporate America Task Force
December 17, 2009
Contact: Lizette Jenness Olmos (202) 365-4553 mobile
WASHINGTON, DC – The Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility (HACR) released the findings of its 2009 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index (CII) survey demonstrating that Hispanics are still underrepresented on corporate boards and upper management positions at the largest corporations in the country.
The survey focused on HACR’s four pillars which are employment, procurement, philanthropy, and governance. A total of 114 businesses which were comprised of Fortune 100 corporations and HACR members were voluntarily invited to survey. Of the 114 companies that accepted the survey, only 34 submitted surveys, 28 of the 34 were HACR corporate members.
The findings revealed that only 6% out of 384 open board positions are held by Hispanics. The survey also shows that Hispanics only hold 61 positions out of the 1,281 executive and director available positions.
The average corporate giving distributed in 2008 of those who responded, was approximately $31 million. Of these dollars, $1.37 million were directed to the Hispanic community.
Hispanics are still facing adversity in their salary when compared to non-Hispanics. The survey shows that on average, Hispanics are earning $12,000 less for a full-time position.
“Hispanics, the largest and fastest minority group in the country have a limited voice in Corporate America,” said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. “Fortune 100 companies should not ignore Latinos because they have over a trillion dollars in purchasing power.”
“HACR commends the Fortune 100 and HACR Corporate member companies for participating in the 2009 HACR Corporate Index Survey,” said HACR President and CEO, Carlos Orta. “We are confident that those companies that did not participate this year will do so in the future; if for no other reason than to lend credence to their claims of being “leaders” in their respective industries.”
The 2009 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index survey will be available for downloading on HACR’s website. Companies like Microsoft, Johnson and Johnson, Chevron, JP Morgan Chase & Co. and Target all declined to participate. The companies that did respond include McDonald’s, Kraft, Wal-Mart, IBM and Dell. Within the responding group, Sodexo, AT&T, Coca-Cola, Marriott and Verizon scored the best for including Hispanics at their respective headquarters.
The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic conditions, educational attainment, political influence, health, housing and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.
Click here to read the 2009 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index